Posted 5 years ago on Feb. 19, 2013, 3:03 a.m. EST by Kavatz
(464)
from Edmonton, AB
This content is user submitted and not an official statement

I'm talking strictly about the 99% Conglomerate and its supporters/members on this forum.

Interest is growing as people learn this is not a scam or an insincere effort. It is the real deal and destined to be huge.

I think the fastest way to get everyone involved is by displaying the names of prominent members you recognize and know have a large following (as well as all other members, of course).

So the question for you is as follows:
Would you be offended/upset if someone listed your OWS Username in posts so others can see you support a particular initiative, without personally asking you first?

I just realized I could make a Yes/No field on the Join page, eliminating the need to ask. I think I'll do that, but still interested in your opinion. Was it a stupid question?

95 Comments

Thus far, I like the fact that it is a directory of sorts of 99% businesses. Although, I only see one business. I also like the fact that you now have a space that I can check it out with joining anything. That said, you have an entire forum where there is a discussion set for a constitution. That will be interesting to watch. I'm not down with using my name in a post.

There should be two actual Subsidiary list members. There are other members in the Ad Recipient list but only group managers can see them. Not sure if some didn't realize they need to check the box or are just hesitant at this point.

Sorry, I don't understand what is holding you back. The Conglomerate is international. Canadian, American, Mexican, and a bunch of interest from parts of Europe and Asia. I was hoping you would be the first Australian. Someone will be, if not you, but I thought we made some progress together a few weeks ago and in the last few days.
Please do not let borders prevent unity.

Huge numbers have huge effects on perceptions. The idea will help unify, especially when this is promoted by renowned speakers like Wolff and Chomsky. I can't wait to hear about it on Alternative Radio and Bill Moyers by guests of their caliber.

I think most sincere people here, with nothing to hide will not mind at all...and will love being a part of something this genuine. That being said, given the democratic aspirations and spirit of OWS and the people that are drawn to this site, there will be some who would prefer the choice via democratic method such as the Yes/No field. Further responses here will make it clear soon enough. Great thread by the way. I have come to appreciate your very 'action' oriented presence here Kavatz!

Yes this done sound like a good idea on the face of it, but as I sit here in my garage with an imported gas fireplace-type stove keeping me warm tapping away on my LT which is probably made in China, and most of the clothes i have on also made by huge corps overseas....how do you honestly boycott all 1% corporations

I really do wish we could boycott all those bastards, but I just don't see how we can

Picking them off one at a time would work, I think, like the worst one in retail, the worst of them in electronics, clothing, etc.

Well, when the Conglomerate has many subsidiaries all over the place, you just whip out your Directory Subsidiary (will eventually be a mobile app) and see if there is a 99% alternative close enough to you.

When you come to understand all the current plans for Phases 1-3, you'll see how effective this will be for boycotting and creating a "Responsible Capitalism". I'm looking forward to new better plans too when people start getting more involved.

All YOU need to do to help is create a Subsidiary. Doesn't matter what it is... sell advice for $1 each or sing songs. You can start a subsidiary selling houses if you want. If someone asks to buy one, say "I'm out of stock" or "Sorry, too busy" if it's a service.

Can I help you start one, or can you figure it out? It's incredibly easy.

Most appreciated. I'm always seeking to pull out those roots before they get too big! This idea is becoming quite solid thanks to great constructive criticism. I believe your question is being answered in your other replies as they come in.

Didn't suspect you at all. Just sometimes people walk into something with no information, make simple-minded perceptual errors, and feel their time is best spent killing a stranger's buzz. Good move, hero, whoever their sorry ass is.

Not the Conglomerate!!! Well, the idea anyway, and it's potential impact on everything. How can I get people get involved? Where is the solidarity? If only like 1% of people on OWS get behind the most promising solution, when it only takes a few minutes (no effort, money or risk whatsoever), we're history.

You always own it. It costs nothing until Phase 2, but you can choose not to continue. In Phase 2 you only share a small percent of revenue. That percent is decided democratically by you and other Subsidiary owners when the time comes.

One flaw with the way I chose to implement this Phase 1 project, the Directory of Subsidiaries (the groupspaces website) is that you can only have one Subsidiary for each email address, but you can figure out easy workarounds like get another email address and set a rule to forward to your main one. Or just use two emails! When Phase 2 comes and funding comes in, better technology can be used.

So even if your Subsidiary brings in zero dollars to the Conglomerate, you still have full democratic influence in decision-making.

They can start their own subsidiaries. Also, in Phase 3, workplace democracy is in effect for the large, "consumed" subsidiaries. I can tell you more about how the conglomerate strategically consumes corporations we despise.

OK, my real reply now that I have the time. Consumers need to support the Conglomerate whenever possible. Now if a mom and pop restaurant didn't want to join the conglomerate, and they ALL will be encouraged to, I wouldn't frown upon its patrons.

On the other hand, of someone walks a block past a Conglomerate Subsidiary coffee shop with decent quality, price, service and convenience, so they can look cool at Starbucks, I'd want to slap that person upside the head and say "Where the fuck do you think you're going?" OK, maybe I wouldn't because it's a little extreme, but it's how I would feel.

We're talking solidarity here and a need to make all the 99% understand that's who they are. The movement needs to go far beyond 5% of the 99% for significant systemic change to occur.

First of all, the order in which we consume irresponsible corporate entities is strategic, meaning it may not be feasible or possible to consume Walmart or Monsanto before the end of Phase 3, for example. I really REALLY hope it is possible though.

As time goes on and people start purchasing more 99% products/services, profits will shift from the 1% to the 99%. The irresponsible entities will grow weaker while we grow stronger, making them easier to consume in time.

There will come a day when the Conglomerate has the financial leverage to purchase large corporations, with price tags of millions and billions of dollars. The Conglomerate will go deep into debt to make such purchases if necessary.

The 1% won't be complaining much and neither will shareholders as they will get their money. They had better be willing to sell before Phase 3 is done, as a matter of fact, because that's when we take back control of the nation, making rules they will have to accept, like shape up or ship out.

You'd be wise to completely ignore those karma point, Kavatz. All you have to do is get on someone's bad side and they'll hound you from then on downvoting every comment you make regardless of how valid the comment is. And they'll get their like-minded comrades to do the same. It's a complete abuse of the original purpose of the vote. Not to mention childish as hell.

Last year, I had one forum member here (who shall remain nameless) that spent literally HOURS of his free time going thru old posts downvoting every comment of mine he could find. Now, how fucking juvenile is that?

Yup, I know the feeling. I bailed on another forum because of a similar idiot. This guy disagreed on everything everyone said and replied to every post with links to the dumbest website I've ever seen. He always referenced Jesus and thought he had a chance to be the next President of USA. HAHAHA! Well, I think he still watches that forum and is just about the only one left who is active there. He ruined it for everyone.

Now spending hours searching for old posts to downvote makes your guy a candidate for a good curb stomping. (a verbal stomping of course!)

Yeah, it was pretty pitiful. I disappeared from the forum for about a week or so, meaning I didn't make ANY comments at all in that time, and when I came back on I was down about five hundred points or so. Not coincidentally, I'd had an extended 'disagreement' with him the night before my absence. He would also spend untold hours using different usernames to massively upvote his own comments because he thinks those points are some sort of validation, although he'll deny that fact. I went thru a few threads last year around that time just out of curiosity and noticed every comment he made on them had 6, 7, 8 points each. EVERY comment. He finally got busted for it though since it was so blatant.

Don't let that bullshit chase you off this forum though. It sounds like you have some good things to say and some good ideas. We need supporters like you.

I won't leave soon, this is by far the best place for me to be. So many like-minded people. Something I have been yearning for for many years but didn't know where to look or didn't look hard enough until recently.

I'll get the meanest of the meanies, like GirlFriday, to chase away those trolls (love watching her posts!)

I hope I can convince you to start a Conglomerate Subsidiary! I'm willing to spend time with you to show how, answer questions, give you ideas, or anything I have time for.

Your site intrigues me. I just checked it out briefly last night. Let me dig into it some more and I'll get back with you for more clarification. Got a lot on my plate right now, but things should level off soon and I'll have more time to concentrate on it.

Cool. Good thing about it is it requires no real concentration. You just go to Join, and spend as little as a few minutes. Just get a Subsidiary name up there and put BRB or something in the fields. Call the Subsidiary gnomunny if you want (great idea, why didn't I think of this before!). Then take as much time as you need. You'll get the weekly email, which is just the Subsidiary Directory.

I'll definitely be checking into it. Probably after the post I'm working on, which should take a few days. I'll spend some time on your site looking around by this weekend. Time flies too quick to get to it before that. In fact, I just bookmarked it.

They are made of cloth and you buy them one time. Very cost efficient. The babes are fine as long as parents are not too lazy and can change them. They are reusable thereby saving a lot of toxin from landfill and wrapping on child bums.

I thought that too but it is debatable. Why would someone be afraid to declare their support for something they believe in? Plus, it's not like any personal information is being shared. Usernames are pretty much a disguise. You're probably right though.

I would say it is about respect. Either you respect the people choosing to get involved with you're group and inform them how you will you use their property (username), or you will rationalize why they shouldn't object and disrespectfully use their property (username) without permission to market your product.

Growth and stability in your local community, personal success as an entrepreneur, Conglomerate membership numbers, the Conglomerate's level of political influence, resulting increase in Occupy supporters, and probably more. Would you like me to elaborate on anything in particular?

OK, good question. If you have any way to make money, start a Subsidiary. If you haven't yet thought of a way, I might be able to help you generate ideas. Once you have a Subsidiary, It will be on the Subsidiary Directory which will be distributed to subscribers to the Ad Recipients list on a weekly basis. In time you will become too busy to keep up with demand for your products/services, unless your offerings/service/prices are horrible of course.